Radhika murder: 2 held but killer still at large

New Delhi: Clueless in the sensational daylight murder of student Radhika Tanwar with no witness coming forward, the Delhi Police interrogated hundreds of people before zeroing in on friends of a likely suspect, which led to the murderer himself.

Police questioned hundreds of people in this case and carried out house-to-house enquiries in Naraina village.

"There were three incidents of beating up of stalkers in the area. We first searched for acquaintances of those who were beaten up earlier for stalking. We also spoke to polling agents of political parties who knew the voters in the area as well as those who did not figure in the voters list," said Deputy Commissioner of Police HGS Dhaliwal.

The suspect Vijay alias Ram Singh, 25, hailing from Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, used to work at a embroidery unit in Naraina village. "He was thrashed by the locals for stalking Radhika three-and-a-half-years back, and since then harboured thoughts of killing Radhika to avenge his humiliation," Dhaliwal said.

"He was bashed up in front of his community members, who also worked in the unit. He felt humiliated and nurtured a grudge about the incident."

Police spoke to proprietors of ration shops, grocery shops and milk booths in the area who provided inputs about friends of those who were beaten up. "This led us to the two friends of Vijay and one of Vijay`s earlier employers, Kamal," he said.

The two friends - Tabrez and Ashraf - were detained from Vishwa town in Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, about 400 km from Delhi, while on their way to Delhi.

"The embroidery units in the village were sold thrice or twice in last three years and the owners don`t keep the records of the daily wage labourers to save taxes," said Dhaliwal.

It was two friends of Radhika who helped police to prepare a sketch of a suspect, which Kamal identified as of Vijay. It was also learnt that Vijay was a drunkard and not regular at work.